July 10, Malaysia, Bukit Jalil National Stadium, first round of Group C, China VS Malaysia.
In the locker room, Zhu Guanghu held an A4 piece of paper and stood in front of the players and read aloud.
"...For tonight's game, I think if the Chinese team plays normally, there shouldn't be much problem in winning."
"The current Chinese team has gathered a large group of very talented players and is a team full of vigor."
"I also paid attention to this team's training in the United States. Although the training results were average, it can be seen that the team's overall coordination has improved significantly than in the past. I believe that after these two months of active preparations, they will be better in the competition. There will be a better performance in the Asian Cup."
"As for the Chinese team's first opponent, frankly I don't know much about this Southeast Asian team. I have had very few opportunities to lead a team against them before."
"But I know that their skills are more delicate and their speed is faster. Although in terms of strength, Malaysia does not pose much of a threat to China, but for such an intercontinental competition, no game will be easy. Look down on your opponents. It often comes at a very painful cost.”
"...I don't never predict the score of the game, and I think the final score is not the most important. I believe the Chinese team will achieve an ideal result today, but what is more important is the process of the game, because many Things can’t be reflected in a score.”
"...I also want to tell the Chinese fans a piece of news. I will go to Kuala Lumpur on July 14 to follow the Chinese team's performance live."
"...Finally, I wish the Chinese national team a good start tonight and go further and further in this cup."
This is what Milu posted on his Jiulang blog before the game. As the meritorious coach who led the Chinese team out of Asia in 2002, Milu has been paying attention to every move of the Chinese team even when he is not in China.
Although the first game was against the host country, no one thought before the game that the national football team would lose in this game.
The difference lies in how many goals the Chinese team will win against its opponents, and how it will score goals and win over its opponents. These have become topics of discussion among fans before the game.
In the 8 previous appearances in the Asian Cup, the Chinese team's opening game record was 1 win, 4 draws and 3 losses.
Although betting companies are generally optimistic about the national football team's victory over Malaysia, the previous 11 encounters with Malaysia in the international A-level competition have indeed resulted in an overwhelming advantage of 8 wins and 3 draws. However, the "strong host" since the opening of the Asian Cup cannot be ignored - Vietnam defeated the United Arab Emirates with two goals, and Thailand drew with Iraq.
The Indonesian team, which debuted shortly before the start of this game, also defeated Bahrain 2-1. The other three host teams achieved an astonishing record of 2 wins and 1 draw in the first game.
Therefore, the first game of this fourth host country has attracted the attention of many fans. There are even people who buy Malaysia in the hope of defeating the Chinese team.
In the stands, Chinese red was floating everywhere.
These Chinese fans who came with the team filled the entire stadium, making the other three hosts envious!
There is no way, who makes China have more fans?
Before the game started, the camera stayed on Wang Xiaodong, who was wearing No. 10, for a long time.
Everyone knows that this young Chinese is the most famous player in the entire Asian Cup.
And he is only 18 years old this year.
Only one minute after the start of the game, the Chinese team had a good scoring opportunity. Zhou Haibin's long pass from the backcourt accurately found the left wing Mao Jianqing. The latter passed low into the penalty area under the attack of two defensive players. All the players in the middle missed the ball, and Dong Fangzhuo's shot from the back was blocked by the goalkeeper.
Malaysia's first attack in the opening game was fierce and always ended with a foul in the frontcourt. Later, it showed a sense of stability and did not have the home momentum as imagined.
There was no way, every time Wang Xiaodong got the ball in the frontcourt, the Malaysian players couldn't steal it.
Seeing Wang Xiaodong strolling in front of the opponent's penalty area with the ball, host He Wei couldn't help but praise: "Wang Xiaodong feels quite like Riquelme in these two moments!"
There is no way, the intensity of this competition is too relaxed.
After Wang Xiaodong hit the ball several times in a row, he directly took over the ball.
Zhu Guanghu's decision was indeed the right one. Not only did he give Wang Xiaodong the number 10, which symbolizes the core of the team's control, but he also moved his position to the frontline central defender.
Originally, many fans questioned Zhu Guanghu's decision, but now it seems that Wang Xiaodong is fully capable of filling this position.
Under Wang Xiaodong's slow organization, the Chinese team's first goal soon appeared.
It was in the ninth minute of the game. Wang Xiaodong faked a shot and passed in front of the penalty area. He just feinted with his right leg and deceived the two defenders standing in front of him.
Then he pushed his left foot forward, and the ball cut through Malaysia's three lines of defense like a scalpel and appeared accurately in front of Shao Jiayi.
The overseas forward who returned from Germany shot directly without stopping the ball. The Malaysian goalkeeper was unable to make a save and the ball rolled from his armpit into the net.
1-0, the Chinese team took the lead.
Seeing the Chinese team score a goal, the stands roared and the red flag waved.
The fans held their hands in the shape of a trumpet and chanted the names of those involved in the goal.
Looking at the excited fans in the stands, Wang Xiaodong felt calm.
There was no way, such a rhythm of the game, such a simple goal, it really couldn't arouse his inner desire to celebrate.
But seeing the excited fans, he still raised his hands and waved, then turned around and walked towards his own half.
"A goal has been scored, the Chinese team has scored a goal!" He Wei's excited voice came from the TV screen.
"It's a collaboration between two overseas players."
"Wang Xiaodong deceived the opponent's defense with a feint and used a diagonal pass to tear open the opponent's defense. Shao Jia rushed there and took the lead in scoring for the Chinese team."
"The cooperation between the two was simple and smooth, without any unnecessary movements. This goal was just like a normal offensive and defensive practice. The ball was scored while walking."
"Okay, I hope the Chinese team can maintain this momentum, keep up their efforts, and completely control the game!"
If you play against a team like Malaysia, you can defeat your opponent even with only local league players.
But after all, the opponent was the host, and it was the first game of the Chinese team's group stage. Zhu Guanghu directly sent seven returnees to start the game. What he wanted was to win a victory first.
After the first goal, the players' feet became warm and they gradually adapted to the opponent's rhythm.
Soon, the second goal also appeared.
It was still an assist from Wang Xiaodong. This time, Wang Xiaodong continued to flick the ball, but actually used his right foot to point the ball forward. There was a Malaysian player stuck on his left shoulder, and he just brought the ball into the penalty area bit by bit.
After rushing into the penalty area, Wang Xiaodong glanced forward, suddenly accelerated away, and then swept the ball to the center.
Shao Jiayi's controversial point in the front attracted the attention of the opponent's goalkeeper and defender, and Dong Fangzhuo easily broke through the empty goal in the back.
2-0, another mutual cooperation between overseas players.
After scoring, Wang Xiaodong looked up at the timer and curled his lips.
The time has reached the 25th minute, 16 minutes away from the first goal.
In these 16 minutes, the ball was basically controlled by the Chinese team, and most of the players on both sides were concentrated at the front of the opponent's penalty area.
In these 16 minutes, Wang Xiaodong passed at least 10 through balls that could be received and shot directly. However, either his teammates failed to seize the opportunity and kicked the ball wide, or they did not take decisive action, thus wasting the opportunity.
None of these 10 passes were intercepted, and they were all passed to the feet of teammates.
But Wang Xiaodong was certainly a little unhappy because he hadn't scored until now.
In some aspects, the football game is a competitive event about seizing opportunities. Some teams create 100 opportunities, but they may not score a goal; some teams may only have one offensive opportunity in the whole game, but they seize it. Live, that's a goal.
Judging from the on-site situation, the Chinese team's ability to seize opportunities is still slightly poor.
In the stoppage time of the first half, the Chinese team scored another goal. Sun Jihai's ball in front of the penalty area was destroyed by the opponent. Zheng Zhi, who regained the ball, shot decisively. The ball hit the opponent's defender and then changed the line. It bounced past the goalkeeper and bounced into the lower corner of the goal. The Chinese team entered the center with a 3-goal advantage. Field break.
Just 3 minutes into the second half, Wang Xiaodong took advantage of the gap created by his opponent's obvious looking left and right to help Mao Jianqing hit the bottom. The latter passed the ball decisively and accurately, and Dong Fangzhuo outflanked him at the back point to score another victory.
After 4-0, the game became simpler, and the Chinese team completely controlled the game.
In order to protect the starting players, Zhu Guanghu began to make substitutions.
First, Han Peng replaced Dong Fangzhuo, then Zhou Haibin replaced veteran Li Tie, and finally Deng Bin replaced Shao Jiayi.
In the 83rd minute, Wang Xiaodong, who stayed on the court until the end, made another killer move.
Han Peng, who came on as a substitute, received a cross from Wang Xiaodong at a 45-degree angle outside the penalty area, jumped up high, and shook his head near the penalty spot to score.
5-0, the Chinese team completely sealed the victory.
Seeing the fifth goal, Zhu Guanghu waved his arms excitedly on the sidelines.
Five goals not only represent that he has led the national team to its full level and performance, but Han Peng's goal also proves that his vision for substitutions is correct.
The sun had set at this time, but the temperature at the scene was still very high. This kind of heat is not the same as the wet heat in Shenzhen. It is a baking type of dry heat that can make your throat smoke.
But at this moment, who cares about his thirsty throat?
All the Chinese red colors in the stands were shaking, and even many Malaysian fans began to switch sides and kept booing their own players.
The camera flashed by, and Zhu Guanghu, dressed in a black suit, stood on the spot, giving a sense of deja vu as "the boats and oars disappeared into ashes while talking and laughing."
In the stands not far behind him, a banner with white characters on a red background was also included in the shot - the glory of the national football team is here.
The constantly shaking banners just showed the excitement inside the fans.
After the game, the reporters on the sidelines immediately surrounded Wang Xiaodong as he walked off the court. Everyone wanted to interview this handsome young man who scored a hat trick of assists in his first appearance on behalf of the national team.
"Wang Xiaodong, congratulations on helping the Chinese team win its first victory and getting off to a good start."
"Thank you." Wang Xiaodong wiped the sweat from his temples with a towel and walked towards the players' tunnel.
But the reporters were not willing to let him go. After the simple congratulations and polite remarks, another reporter asked: "Wang Xiaodong, this Asian Cup is a 'big mess'. Do you have the confidence to lead the national team to the final victory?"
In the previous games, Japan and Australia failed, while Vietnam and Thailand rose up.
In the eyes of many media and fans, this is a manifestation of the "collective heat stroke" of the Asian Tigers.
If there are no tigers in the mountains, can monkeys be called kings?
Some people say that the Chinese team is also at the tiger level, but everyone knows that the Chinese team is just a "stronger monkey".
Now that the Chinese team has made such a good start, can we "fish in troubled waters" and take advantage of the opportunity to achieve better results?
Faced with endless questions from reporters, Wang Xiaodong looked up at the nearby players' tunnel and casually pulled a microphone in front of him.
Looking at a dozen pairs of expectant eyes around him, Wang Xiaodong suddenly opened his mouth: "Even if it~~~~"
The opening of a piece of Peking Opera singing instantly stunned the dozen reporters.
"Collusion between inside and outside, lies and real fights, overt and covert attacks, all kinds of tricks!"
"How can I hold my justice in my hands and my ideals in my heart? I will use one as ten and vow to kill those Asian wolves~~~"
"Sweep!!!"
